Alliance for dual VET in Latin America

Dual VET programmes are not nearly as widespread in Latin America as they are in Germany, but they are becoming increasingly popular. The educational strategies there often focus primarily on getting disadvantaged young people into work. The focus is particularly on young people without qualifications and without work – an issue that is also of great importance for the economy in Germany.

In order to exchange ideas on the success factors and current challenges of the dual VET system, VET institutions from all over Latin America met at the end of October at the International Conference of the Alliance for dual VET in Latin America and the Caribbean in Rio de Janeiro.

The conference was hosted by the Brazilian Service National Service for Training in Commerce and Tourism (SENAC), which currently holds the chairmanship of the Alliance. Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training BIBB is a reference institution and, together with the International Labour Organization ILO/Cinterfor (Technical Secretariat), provides counselling and supports the respective one-year presidency within the framework of the Alianza coordination group.

Around 100 experts accepted the invitation to Rio. In addition to the Alliance member institutions, representatives of the SENAC regional directorates from the 27 administrative units took part. Under the title "Dual vocational training that makes a difference", the conference placed a strong focus on the inclusive and personality-building aspects of vocational training.

A tour of a regional SENAC centre in Rio de Janeiro impressively demonstrated the educational concepts used to teach young people soft skills and thus strengthen their self-confidence. The statement "Training has changed my life" was heard more than once during the days in Rio.

For SENAC, the conference was a valuable contribution to the current discourse on vocational training in Brazil. The current economic situation in Brazil is favourable for the expansion of the dual system, which goes far beyond the short internships that have been common practice up to now. "We are very pleased about the impetus to strengthen our institution, which builds bridges between nations, production sectors and international organisations," said José Roberto Tadros, President of the CNC trade association, to which SENAC also belongs.

Promoting the dual VET system in the region

Another focus of the conference was on exchange with companies and their commitment to work-based learning. Convincing companies to participate in dual training programmes is a challenge in many Latin American countries. Often, the opportunities are not well known. In addition, employers shy away from the effort involved in providing support.

During the conference, BIBB expert Dr Felix Wenzelmann presented the results of cost-benefit analyses online. In Germany, around 19 percent of companies currently offer training to young people in the dual system. The conference participants were very impressed by the high level of commitment on the part of companies and suggested that corresponding studies be carried out for Latin America.

Latin American vocational training institutions see a need for further action in view of the lack of a legal framework for dual models in many countries, the pedagogical competence of training staff in companies and the increasingly technological and digital world of work.

As co-organiser of the conference and the Alliance's reference institution, BIBB contributed to the conference in Rio with input such as current data from German vocational training and a presentation on how the BIBB's main board works.

An important part of the substantive debates was also Recommendation 208 of the ILO from 2023, an effective instrument for the implementation and expansion of dual training options in Latin America as well. Following an introduction by Gonzalo Graña (ILO/Cinterfor) on the key points of Recommendation, Ilona Medrikat from BIBB explained the extent to which the German dual system already implements the core principles. As the conference progressed, the discussion repeatedly returned to the quality criteria outlined here in the dual system.

Bringing a regional perspective to the global discourse

At their subsequent members' meeting in Rio, the member institutions adopted a position paper in which they identified the challenges for dual vocational training in the region. They also declared their intention to join forces as an alliance in order to promote the quality of vocational training in Latin America and the Caribbean and to ensure that disadvantaged target groups in particular have access to high-quality vocational training.

Representatives of the Alianza presented the contents of this position paper as a regional perspective at the Global TVET Forum, which took place in Berlin shortly after the Rio conference.

"Despite different education systems, we face similar challenges worldwide," said BIBB Research Director Professor Hubert Ertl in his video address. Reflecting on the challenges together, comparing approaches and finding common answers is the approach of both the Alliance and the "Towards A Global TVET Agenda" initiative, which is organising the conference in Berlin. BIBB is playing a coordinating role in both initiatives.